Multi-dimensional cybersecurity skills assessment method and system

Abstract

A method, system and computer usable program product for assessing a cybersecurity skill of a participant, can involve generating and outputting to an I/O device, a user interface that includes user input fields for receiving data related to a cybersecurity task from a participant of a cybersecurity assessment facilitated by the user interface, the user interface operable to assess a cybersecurity skill of the participant as a part of the cybersecurity assessment. The cybersecurity skill of the participant via can be assessed via the user interface, based on metrics that indicate how the participant achieved the cybersecurity task as compared to at least one other participant of the cybersecurity assessment, and after the cybersecurity task has been completed by the participant via the user interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for assessing a cybersecurity skill of a participant, comprising:
 generating and outputting to an I/O device, a user interface for a gamified learning environment, the user interface comprising a gamified graphical user interface (GUI) comprising a plurality of user input fields for receiving data related to a cybersecurity task from a participant of a cybersecurity assessment facilitated by the user interface and a network comprising a plurality of virtual switches, the user interface operable to assess a cybersecurity skill of the participant as a part of the cybersecurity assessment; and   assessing the cybersecurity skill of the participant in the gamified learning environment, based on a flag comprising a key/value pair in the gamified learning environment.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the cybersecurity skill of the participant is further assessed based on metrics that indicate how the participant achieved the cybersecurity task as compared to at least one other participant of the cybersecurity assessment in the gamified learning environment, after the cybersecurity task has been completed by the participant in the gamified learning environment via the gamified GUI. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the gamified GUI comprises a web application portal. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the plurality of virtual switches directs communication on the network by checking data packets before moving the data packets to a destination and each virtual switch among the plurality of virtual switches comprises or is a part of a software application that allows for the communication on the network between virtual machines. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein:
 the gamified GUI comprises a web application portal; and 
 the plurality of virtual switches directs communication on the network by checking data packets before moving the data packets to a destination and each virtual switch among the plurality of virtual switches comprises or is a part of a software application that allows for the communication on the network between virtual machines. 
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the gamified GUI is accessible by the participant and the at least one other participant. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the metrics comprise an amount of network traffic generated during the cybersecurity task performed by the participant. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the metrics comprise a number of network detection alerts generated as a result of the cybersecurity task performed by the participant. 
     
     
         29 . The method of claim  221  wherein the metrics comprise an overall difficulty rating of the cybersecurity task. 
     
     
         30 . The method of claim  1  wherein the user interface is accessible by a content designer, an assessor, a team leader and a practitioner. 
     
     
         31 . A system for assessing a cybersecurity skill of a participant, comprising:
 at least one processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions to cause the at least one processor to perform:
 generating and outputting to an I/O device, a user interface for a gamified learning environment, the user interface comprising a gamified graphical user interface (GUI) comprising a plurality of user input fields for receiving data related to a cybersecurity task from a participant of a cybersecurity assessment facilitated by the user interface and a network comprising a plurality of virtual switches, the user interface operable to assess a cybersecurity skill of the participant as a part of the cybersecurity assessment; and 
 assessing the cybersecurity skill of the participant in the gamified learning environment, based on a flag comprising a key/value pair in the gamified learning environment. 
   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the cybersecurity skill of the participant is further assessed based on metrics that indicate how the participant achieved the cybersecurity task as compared to at least one other participant of the cybersecurity assessment in the gamified learning environment, after the cybersecurity task has been completed by the participant in the gamified learning environment via the gamified GUI. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the gamified GUI comprises a web application portal. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the plurality of virtual switches directs communication on the network by checking data packets before moving the data packets to a destination and each virtual switch among the plurality of virtual switches comprises or is a part of a software application that allows for the communication on the network between virtual machines. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 31  wherein:
 the gamified GUI comprises a web application portal; and 
 the plurality of virtual switches directs communication on the network by checking data packets before moving the data packets to a destination and each virtual switch among the plurality of virtual switches comprises or is a part of a software application that allows for the communication on the network between virtual machines. 
 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the gamified GUI is accessible by the participant and the at least one other participant. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the metrics comprise an amount of network traffic generated during the cybersecurity task performed by the participant. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the metrics comprise a number of network detection alerts generated as a result of the cybersecurity task performed by the participant.